Storable structure of table and chair

ABSTRACT

A storable structure of the table and chair includes a tabletop and at least one chair member positioned adjacent the tabletop. Each of the at least one chair member includes a chair, a lifting device and a sliding device. The lifting device connects to the chair for vertically moving the chair. The sliding device connects to the lifting device and the tabletop. The chair slides horizontally via the sliding device for storage under the tabletop.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a storable structure of table andchair, and more particularly to a structure for storage at least onechair under a table and lifting or lowering the chair from the floor.

2. Description of Related Art

A conventional combination table and chairs in accordance with the priorart comprises a table which is supported by support members extendingfrom the table beyond the plane of the table and connecting with thechair members, with the points of connection of the support members tothe table and chairs lying substantially in a common vertical plane. Thechair seat members are mounted for movement in all directions in theplane of the seat.

However, the prior art suffered from several disadvantages. Due to thecomplicated structure of the combination table and chairs, the chairsare not able to be moved freely on the floor. For the reason, a user cannot easily move the chair to a suitable position from the edge of thetable. Moreover it is inefficient and difficult to detach the chairsfrom the table since many tubular supports are used in the combinationof the table and chairs. Therefore this is not convenient to store thechairs and save the space.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate thedisadvantages of the conventional combination table and chairs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide an improvedstorable structure of table and chair,

To achieve the objective, the storable structure of the table and chairincludes a tabletop and at least one chair member positioned adjacentthe tabletop. Each of the at least one chair member includes a chair, alifting device and a sliding device. The lifting device connects to thechair for vertically lifting or lowering the chair. When a force isapplied downwardly to the chair, the chair is lowered to adapt to abutagainst a floor so as to be sat stably by a person, and when the forceis released, the chair is lifted upwardly by the lifting device. Thesliding device which connects to the lifting device and the tabletop hasa guild rail and a cantilever, the guide way is attached underneath thetabletop. The cantilever connects the chair and the guide rail. Thechair slides horizontally along the guide rail so as to be storableunder the tabletop.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent after a careful reading of the detailed description withappropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the storablestructure of table and chair as the chair is stored under the tabletop;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the storablestructure of table and chair as the chair is stored under the tabletop;

FIG. 3 is an operational perspective view of the preferred embodiment ofthe storable structure of table and chair as the chair is pulled out anda force is applied on the chair;

FIG. 4 is an operational side view of the preferred embodiment of thestorable structure of table and chair as the chair is pulled out and aforce is applied on the chair;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the storablestructure of table and chair; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the storablestructure of table and chair.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a storablestructure of table and chair in accordance with a preferred embodimentof the present invention comprises a tabletop 10 and at least one chairmember 2 which positions adjacent the tabletop 10.

Each of the at least one chair member 2 comprises a chair 20 and alifting device 40 movably connected to the chair 20. The chair 20comprises a seat 21 and a chair base 22 having an upper end pivotallyattached to the seat 21. The chair base 22 has a support post 221 whichone end is used to vertically support the seat 21 thereatop and theother end is mounted on a support base 222. The chair 20 has a pluralityof casters 223 underneath the support base 222 for abutting against afloor. Therefore the chair 20 moves freely on the floor via the casters223.

The lifting device 40 movably connected to the chair base 22 is a springmember. The lifting device 40 comprises a vertical sleeve 41 sleeved onthe support post 221 and having a receiving space 44 defined between thesupport post 221 and the vertical sleeve 41. The lifting device 40further includes a spring 43 and a flange 42 which both are accommodatedin the receiving space 44. The spring 43 is compressible and sleeved onthe support post 221. One end of the spring 43 abuts against a bottom ofthe flange 42 and the other end of the spring 43 abuts against an innerbottom of the vertical sleeve 41. The flange 42 is fixed to the supportpost 221 and thereby moves upwardly or downwardly with the chair 20.When a force is applied downwardly, the chair 20 is lowered to abutagainst the floor. The chair 20 is lifted upwardly by the spring 43 whenthe force is released.

The chair member 2 further comprises a sliding device 30 connected tothe lifting device 40 and the tabletop 10. The sliding device 30comprises a guide rail 31 attached beneath the tabletop 10 and acantilever 32 connected to the guide rail 31 and the lifting device 40.The guide rail 31 has a T-shaped groove 311 forming at least one openingoutwardly to the edge of the tabletop 10. The cantilever 31 has a firstportion 321 corresponding to the T-shaped groove 311, a vertical portion323 and a second portion 322. Both end of the vertical portion 323respectively connect to the first portion 321 and the second portion 322in an L shape, and thus the first portion 321 is perpendicular to thesecond portion 322. The first portion 321 is parallelly received in theT-shaped groove 311 and slidably moves along the T-shaped groove 311.The second portion 322 attaches to the vertical sleeve 41 for supportingthe chair 20 away from the floor. Thereby the chair 20 slidably movesalong the guild rail 31 relatively to the tabletop 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1-2, the vertical sleeve 41 of the lifting device 40is supported by the cantilever 32, and the spring 43 is in unloadedcondition. Therefore the chair 20 is held away from the floor by thecantilever 32. Furthermore the chair 20 slidably moves along the guiderail 31 by the sliding device 30 for storage under the tabletop 10.

As shown in FIGS. 3-4, when a force is applied downwardly on the seat21, the flange 42 descends and thus compresses the spring 43. The chair20 moves downwardly to abut against the floor so as to be sat stably bya person. The spring 43 is compressed between the flange 42 and theinner bottom of the vertical sleeve 41 which is held by the cantilever32. When the force is released, the spring 43 pushes the flange 42upwardly, and thus the chair 20 is lifted by the spring 43.

Furthermore, the lifting device 40 is adjustable by different loading.Thereby the chair 20 is suitable for persons in different weight.

In another embodiment, the lifting device 40 may be a pneumatic cylinderor a set of worm and gear.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of a storable structure of table andchair according to the present invention. The elements and effects ofthe second embodiment which are the same with the preferred embodimentare not described, only the differences are described. The tabletop 10is configured in a shape of square, rectangular, or otherconfigurations. In this embodiment, the tabletop 10 is in the shape ofsquare, and disposed four chair members 2 at four sides of the tabletop10 respectively. And each of the chair members 2 has the chair 20 with arest back 23. The chair 20 is stored under the tabletop 10 and the restback 23 of the chair 20 abuts against the edge of the tabletop 10.

FIG. 6 is a general illustration of a third embodiment of a storablestructure of table and chair. The elements and effects of the thirdembodiment which are the same with the preferred embodiment are notdescribed, only the differences are described. The tabletop 10 isconfigured in a round shape. Ten chair members 2 are disposed tosurround the tabletop 10, and each of the seats 21 is configured in around shape.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment, it is to be understood that many other possiblemodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

1. A storable structure of table and chair comprising: a tabletop; atleast one chair member positioned adjacent the tabletop, each of the atleast one chair member comprising: a chair; a lifting device connectedto the chair for vertically lifting or lowering the chair, wherein whena force is applied downwardly, the chair is lowered to adapt to abutagainst a floor, and the chair is lifted upwardly by the lifting devicewithout the force; and a sliding device connected to the lifting deviceand the tabletop, wherein the chair slides horizontally under thetabletop via the sliding device for storage.
 2. The storable structureof table and chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding devicecomprises a guide rail disposed beneath the tabletop and a cantileverhaving a first portion slidably moved along the guide rail and a secondportion connected to the lifting device; the chair moves along the guiderail relatively to the tabletop.
 3. The storable structure of table andchair as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chair comprises a seat and achair base having an upper end pivotally attached to the seat, the chairbase sleeved by the lifting device thereon.
 4. The storable structure oftable and chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chair comprises aplurality of casters located underneath the chair for freely moving onthe floor.
 5. The storable structure of table and chair as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the lifting device is a spring member.
 6. The storablestructure of table and chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liftingdevice is a pneumatic cylinder.
 7. The storable structure of table andchair as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lifting device is a set of wormand gear.
 8. The storable structure of table and chair as claimed inclaim 2, wherein the cantilever has a vertical portion connects to thefirst portion and second portion.
 9. The storable structure of table andchair as claimed in claim 2, wherein the guide rail comprises a T-shapedgroove defined therein for receiving the first portion.
 10. The storablestructure of table and chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein the secondportion of the cantilever connects to the lifting device surrounding thechair base for supporting the chair away from the floor.
 11. Thestorable structure of table and chair as claimed in claim 8, wherein thefirst portion is parallel to the guide rail, the first portion and thesecond portion both connecting to the vertical portion in an L shape,wherein the first portion is perpendicular to the second portion.